Roof coping



Dec. 12, 1961 c. A. REDDY ETAL ROOF COPING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 13, 1958 INVENTORS C A REDDY C. P. HOLT BY J.M. SHAFFER C.F. REINHARDT M 2%? 147 7 RNE 5 Dec. 12, 1961 c. A. REDDY ETAL 3,012,376

ROOF COPING Filed Feb. 13, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS' C.A. REDDY C.P. HOLT J.M. SHAF'FER C.F. REINHARDT a $312,376 l Patented Dec. 12 1961 3,012,376 R0015 COPING Cyril A. Roddy, Ciarence P. Holt, James M. Shaffer, and

Clarence F. Reinhardt, all of Bartlesville, Okla, assignors to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 13, 1953, Ser. No. 715,111 8 Claims. (Cl. 5066) This invention relates to a coping for use on building roofs. In one aspect it relates to a coping which is held in place by tension and can be easily removed.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved coping for use on building roofs.

Another object of this invention is to provide a removable coping which is architecturally pleasing.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a removable roof coping which is freed to expand and contract with temperature changes.

These and other objects of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description and discussion.

The foregoing objects are achieved broadly by providing a trough-like coping member which is adapted to fit over the edge of a roof, said member being held in place by tension and being readily removable.

The invention will be more fully described by reference to the accompanying drawings, of which FIGURE 1 is an end section view of a building structure showing an installed coping embodying the invention;

1TIGURE 2 is an isometric view of a coping butt joint c 1p;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a coping end covering;

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of a corner coping installation; and

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a roof corner with the coping installed.

Referring to the figures, and more particularly FIG- URE l, a typical installation comprises a roof deck 2 supported on a plate 4, which in turn is supported by a vertical beam 6 attached to the roof deck. A metal covering or fascia 16 is provided to protect the outer facings of the roof deck and plate and the adjoining areas. Resting on roof deck 2, at the outer periphery thereof, and attached thereto is a built-up wood member 8. One side of this member is positioned so as to abut the outer edge of the roof deck and the opposite side is tapered or beveled toward the inner part of the roof. As necessary additional tapering or beveling is provided in order to eliminate sharp edges from coming in contact with the tar paper roofing material which covers the roof deck and is continued from the roof over the built-up member so as to completely cover this member and also the outer face of the roof deck. Usually the roofing material comprises several layers of tar paper with asphalt or other material between each layer. The roofing is terminated with the open ends pointed downwardly; therefore it is desirable to reverse the lowest layer of tar paper, bending this material back over the several layers to seal the open ends of said layers and provide a pocket to trap any roofing compound which might leak out.

The coping comprises two members, one of which is an extended rectangular plate 16, which is bent outwardly at the bottom to provide a drip portion 17. This member As.shown the top edge of plate 16 projects above the built-up member, and the bent back portion 17 projects beneath both the built-up member and roof deck 2. In

addition the coping includes a trough-like extended member 19 which is adapted to fit-over the rectangular plate 16 and built-up member 8 in an inverted position. Coping member 19 has a top wall 20 and upper and lower side walls 22 and 26 respectively. The upper side wall 22 is bent upwardly at its free end to provide lip 24 (for use in removing coping) which rests in contact with the roof covering on the sloping face of built-up member 8, at substantially the point of bending. The lower side wall 26 is also bent outwardly 28 and then back 29 to provide a receptacle for the bent out portion 17 of plate member 16. The bent out portion 28 of the lower wall also serves as a drip lip. To install the coping member 19, the bent back portion 29 is first hooked onto member 17 after which the coping member is distorted outwardly, by lifting up on member 24 whereby the angle between the upper side wall 22 and top 20 is increased, and the upper side wall is passed over plate 16 toward the inner portion of the roof. When the plate 16 comes in contact with the junction of walls 20 and 22, member 24 is released into contact with roof over built-up member 8. In the installed position coping member 19 is still partially deformed and thus is held in place by tension. When it is desired to inspect or repair the area beneath the coping, a procedure opposite to that described can be employed either to partially or entirely remove member 19.

The coping assembly can be made of sufiicient length to cover ,the entire length of the roof in any one direction; however, in many instances it may be desirable to provide shorter lengths, particularly of the trough-like member 19. In this case the roof coping is built of a number of sections 19 butted together, with sufficient space left be tween the sections to provide for expansion due to atmospheric changes. To provide covering of the sections a butt joint clip (see FIGURE 2) is provided. This clip is similar in configuration to coping member 19 and is designated with the same numbers. The clips, which are made slightly larger than coping member 19 in order to accommodate the thickness of said member, are installed over the joints of the coping member 19, being also held in place by tension.

Whenit is necessary to end the coping, other than by turning a corner, a cover plate can be provided for covering the end of the coping. One type of plate is shown in FIGURE 3. In this particular plate 30 is formed to configure to the end of coping member 19 along the dotted lines, so that sections 32, 34, and 36 can be folded back over the upper side wall, lower side wall, and top wall respectively of the coping. The fiat portion of the coping end is extended to cover the edge of the roof 2 and a major proportion of the build-up member 8. When in stalled this member covers the area bounded by coping member 19 and by the dotted lines 3 shown in FIG- URE 1.

In FIGURE 4 there is illustrated coping members 38 and 49 which are used to turn a roof corner. These members are similar to member 19 except that they are cut at a 45 angle at abutting edges 42 and 44. In addition member 40 has two projecting pieces 46 and 48 which are adapted to bend around the top wall and upper side wall respectively of coping member'38. A plan View of a typical corner installation is shown in FIGURE 5.

. The preceding discussion has been directed to a preferred embodiment of the invention; however, it is not intended that this be taken in any limiting sense and it is contemplated that variations and modifications in the apparatus can be provided within the scope of the invention. For example, a fiat roof is shown in the drawings for use in conjunction with the invention; however, the

vtype roof the built-up member is installed on top of the .parapet wall and the roofing material is continued from the roof proper up over the top of the parapet wall and built-up member, in a similar manner as shown in FIG- URE l. Built-up member 8, while preferably solid, can be of a hollow construction with rectangular plate 16 being attached thereto by screws or by other suitable means. In the drawing of FIGURE 1 the coping member 19 is shown as having an angle between the top wall 20 and the lower side wall 26 of about 90. This angle can be varied over a wide range depending on the particular architectural result desired. In general it is desirable touse a larger rather than a smaller angle at this point inasmuch as increasing this angle decreases the quantity of material required for the coping member. The height of plate 16 can be either raised or lowered as desired to increase or decrease theangle between the top wall and the upper side wall of coping member 19; Although shown in the vertical position, this plate can be installed at anangle to-the'vertical if desired, by suitably altering the shape of built-up member 8. Coping member 19 and plate 16 are preferably constructed of metals; however, any material having suflicient rigidity can be used. In the c ase'ofmember 19' it is necessary that the material have suliicient resiliency so that this member will beheld in place by tension when deformed and placed in position.

The coping of this invention possesses a number of advantages. For example, the design used permits the roof to be installed and completed prior to installing the finished coping. A particular advantage li'esin'the fact that theroofing material can. be carried over the entire roof, including the parapet, if this type of roof is employed. 'Any coping material is subject to stresses due to varying thermal conditions. The coping'of this invention is adapted byreason of its construction to expand and contract with atmospheric conditions, completely independent of the roof proper. The coping protects the roof: from physical contact and also provides a degree of protection from the'elements. The coping can be varied in design to provide an architecturallyattractive result to suit the individual. It is also designed and shaped to take advantage of the elasticity and springiness of the metal to holdit firmly in position. Thispermits its removal for roofinspection and repair'work. The coping can be installed almost free of internal thermal forces by using butt joints for the rectangular plate members and also. staggered butt joints. for the coping members 19. The. exposed butt joints are then covered with butt joint clips as described. The parts of the coping assembly are designed to permit their being fabricated on a simple break. This piece of equipment is available in all sheet metal shops and lends itselfwell to mass production.

Having thus described the invention by providing a specific example thereof, it is to be understood that no undue limitations and restrictions are to be drawn by reason thereof and thatmany variations and modificatio'ns lare within the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a building roof having a built-up member attached to the top periphery thereof, one side of said member abutting theouter edge of the roof and said member being; beveled: toward the inner portion of the roof, in which. theroofcovering material is extended over said member and the outer edge of thereof, a coping compr sing an extended plate member bentoutwardly at the bottom, attached to the abutting side of said built-up member. and: extending above and below said built-up member, and a resilient trough-like member placed in an inverted position over and in contact-with the lower extrennty'of the plate member and the beveled portion of said covered built-up member, said trough-like memher having a. lower: side wall bent outwardly and bent bach atits free end and fitting around the outwardly-bent portion of, theplate member, said trough-like member 7 being. held in place substantially entirely by tension at the point: of contact with the beveled portion of said built-up member and the point of contact of said free grid with said outwardly bent po tion of thepla m- 2. In a building roof having a built-up member attached to the top periphery thereof, one side of said member abutting the outer edge of the roof and said member being beveled toward the inner portion of the roof, in which the roof covering material is extended over said member and the outer edge of the roof, a coping comprising an extended plate member bent outwardly at the bottom, attached to the abutting side of said built-up member, and extending above and below said built-up member, and a resilient trough-like member having a top wall and upper and lower side walls, the upper side wall in contact at its free end with the covered built-up member and in contact with the upper edge of the plate memher at its. juncture with the top wall, and the lower side wall being bent outwardly and bent back at its free end and fitting around the outwardly bent portion of the plate member, said trough-like member being held in place substantially entirely by tension at the point of contact with the beveled portion of said built-up member and the member and the outer edge of the roof, a removable coping. comprising a vertical extended rectangular plate member bent. outwardly at the bottom, attached to the abutting side of 'saidbuilt-up member, and extending above and; below said built-up member, and an inverted resilient trough-like plate member of unitary constructionhavinga top wall and upper and lower side walls, the upper side Wall in contact at its free end with the covered built-up member and incontact with the upper edge of the rectangular plate member at its juncture with the top wall, and the lower side wall bent outwardly and bent baclgat its freeend to fit around the'outwardly' bent portion of the rectangular plate member, said trough-like member being heldin place substantially entirely bytension at the points of contact with said outwardly bent portion. and said built-up member.

4. In a building roof having a built-up member attached to the top periphery thereof, oneside of said member abutting the outer edge ofthe roofand said member being. beveled toward the inner portion of the roof, in which the roof covering material is extended over said member and the outer edge of the roof, a coping comprising an extended rectangular plate member bent outwardly at the bottom attached to the abutting side of said built-up member and extending above and below said built-up member, and a series of resilient trough-like members placed in an inverted position over and in contact'with the lower extremity of the plate member and the beveled portion of said covered built-up member, said trough-like members having a lower side wall bent outwardly and bent back at its free end and fitting around the outwardly.- bent portion of the plate member, said trough-like member being held in place substantially'entirely by: tension at the point of contact with the beveled portion of said-built-up member and the point of contact of said free end with said outwardly bentportion of the plate member, said trough-like members being butted together, the butt joints being covered byshort trough-like members of similar construction placed over the butt joints apd held in tension.

"5 In abuilding roof having a built-up member attached to the top'periphery-thereof, one side of-said' member abuttingthe outer edges of the roof and said member being beveled toward the inner portion of the roof, in which thev roofcovering material is extended over said member and the outer edge of the roof, a coping comof resilient saidbuilt-up member and extending above and below said built-up member, said plate members being butted together, and a series of resilient trough-like members placed in an inverted position over and in contact with the lower extremity of the plate members and the beveled portion of said covered built-up member, staggered to cover the butt joints of said plate members, said trough-like members having a lower side wall bent outwardly and bent back at its free end and fitting around the outwardly bent portion of the plate member, said trough-like member being held in place substantially entirely by tension at the point of contact with the beveled portion of said built-up member and the point of contact of said free end with said outwardly bent portion of the plate member, said trough-like members being butted together, the butt joints being covered by short trough-like members of similar construction placed over the butt joints and held in place substantially entirely by tension. 6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which each trough-like member has a top wall and an upper wall, the upper side wall in contact at its free end with the covered built-up member and in contact with the upper edge of a rectangular plate member at its juncture with the top Wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 435,906 Symonds Sept. 2, 1890 1,327,770 Norton Jan. 13, 1920 1,354,867 Wright Oct. 5, 1920 1,394,403 Boll Oct. 18, 1921 2,812,559 McCarran Nov. 12, 1957 2,857,861 Trostle Oct. 28, 1958 OTHER REFERENCES Sheet Metal Contractor, pp. 60, 61, February 1955. Architectural Record, December 1957, pp. 70-71.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,012,376 December 12, 1961 I Cyril A. Reddy .et a1.

Column 4, line 74, strike out "resilient",

Signed and sealed this 8th day of May 1962,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W, SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

